Machine for filling and linking sausages.



L. RIEISFELD.l MACHINE FOR FILLING ANI) LINKI-NGSAUSAGES. APPLICATION 'FILED JUNE 5. |917. 1,292,645. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.y

4 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

L. REISFELD.

MACHINE FOR FILLING AND LINKING SAUSAGES.

APPLICATION Flu-:n JUNE 5.1917.

L: REISFELD.

MACHINE FOR FILLING AND LINKING sAusAGEs.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5.1917.

Patented J an. 28, 1919.

L. REISFELD.

MACHINE FOR FILLING AND LINKING SAUSAGES.

APPLlcATloN F|LD1UNE5.I9|1.

1,292,645. Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

la7 ae A IRT/.62@ z2 r.'

lala/'J jfea'gfeZai Y OFFICE.

LoUIs nEIsFELn, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNon. or ONE-THIRD To CHRIST F. Numana, or MQIIENRY., ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FORFILLING .AND LINKING SA'USAGES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patgnted Jan, 28, 1919 Application filed June 5,'1917. SerialrNo. 172,918.

To all 'whom 'it may' concern Be it known that I,I LOUIS REISFELD, a4

subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinols, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 4Machines for Filling and Linking Sausages, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to improvements in methods of filling and linking sausages and in sausage-filling and linking machines, and its purpose is to provide an improved process and apparatusfor automatically forming link sausages.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means for filling a sausage casing and forming'links of equal length. A

further object is to rovide improved means for intermittently lling successive sections of a sausage casing and alternately twirling the casing adjacent the last section filled, in order to form a permanent separation between successive links formed by the ma# chine.

In one type of sausage-linking machines heretoforeused, the machine operates upon a long llink of stuffed casing which has previously been filled,`but in this class of machines the sudden application of pressure to constrict the stuffed casing, or the 4subsequent twirlin of adjacent links without providing su cient slack in the caslng between them causes the casin to be torn. In this class of machines the lin s were of equal length, but the casings of/a largeproportion.

of the links were torn. In the other class of' machines the casing is' filled in one operation to form a single link, and the adjacent casing is then twirled with respect to the link in order to form a permanent separation bfetween the link and the next one to be formed; but in this class ofmachine asl 'desirable that the various links of a sansa e have. substantially the-same length, n'ot o y because ofthe more pleasing appearanceand consequent attractivenessv to the purchaslnlg public, but'b'ecause of the factthat sausages arev commonly used for forming.;

l.sausage Casin liy ` ing succes ive filling' and twirln sandwiches, and when used for this purpose it is important that the links all have a particular size to conform to the size of the bread or other material of which the sandwich is made. The meansI whereby the present invention provides links of equal length is therefore one of. the important features ofthe device. I

In the formation of link sausages by the present invention equal lengths of the 'casing are filled successively underpressure, so. that the filling of one length or section automatically advances the sections which have been filled in preceding operations, 4and means is provided whereby the length of the sections filled isautomatically measured, so

that when the last section of the casing has been filled to a given length the feeding or filling operation automatically ceases, and twirling apparatus is put in operation 'for rotating the unfilled casing adjacent the last section filled about its longitudinal axis, thereby forming a permanent separation be- 'tween the last section or link and the next' succeedin oneyto be formed. At the conclusion o the twirling operation the twirl ing means is automatically arrested, and the feeding means is a ain put in operation to fill a new sectionA 'of the casing adjacent the one which has just been se arated from the unfilled casin by the twirling operation. Another object of thel inventlon is to provide means for automatically controlling the succession of the different functions performed by the machine, and forinsuring the formation of perfect links of equal length Y Without tearing or otherwise injuring the Another object is to provide electrica the twirling means in operation after a predetermined section of sausage casing has been filled. Still another object is to provide meansfor automatically arresting the twirling operation after a predetermined action thereof. .Another 4important object is to provide means for automatically.timkA j operations. -Other objects relate to varlous features of construction and arrangem t, and .t0 various devices for controlling th operation of the machine, as will appear more full hereinafter.

l@Various features and advantages of the ,invention will a pear more clearly from the following speci cation taken in connection actuated means for setting v Fig. 3 shows a top plan view of the ma chine with certain parts removed.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged transverse vertical section, taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows anenlarged vertical section through the cam shaft and aociated parts, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view vtaken on the line 6 -6 of Fig. 3, showing the means for controlling the actuation of the cam shaft and the means for controlling thelinlrrotatabl measuring device.

Fig. 7 is a'sectional view, taken onthe line 7-7 of Fig. 3, showing an enlarged detail view of the cam and associated parts for controlling the feeding mechanism. Fig. 8 is a sectional View, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3', showing the cam andassociated, parts forregulatlng the driving connection between the cam shaft and the twirlinginechanism; and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 3, showing the cam and associated parts by which the operationy of the feeding'meansis controlled. 4

rlhe invention comprises a main frame 16 and a supplementary frame 15, each adapted to rest upon and be secured to a supporting table 14. The table 16 is 'rovided at its upper central part with a ub or bearing portion 16a adapted to yreceive the tubular part 17 of the feeding tube or nozzle 17. The threaded extremity of this tubular part engages a valve 18 having an operating handle 19, and this valve is' in turn` connected,

through a coupling 20, with a hand valve 21 i having ain/operating handle 21a. rll`he valve 21. communicates, through a coupling tubel 22, |with the outlet 23 of the meat-feeding clylinder 24, havingalplunger 25 mounted t erein connected to an operating piston 26.

The chopped meat to be fed into the sausage casing isplaced in the cylinder 24 beneath .the plston 25, and when-the valves 18 and 21 are open, the downward movement of the iston-which is under constant pressure--v y l suitable means not herein described, causes the chopped meat to pass outwardly through the tube or nozzle 17. -This tube, which is held in a stationary'position in the sub-frame by means of a set screw 27, has mounted thereon a tube 30, the enlarge extremitya of which is adapted naeaeao to abut against the shoulder 171 at the junction of the nozzle portion of the tube 17 and the portion 17a thereof. The enlarged part 30a of the tube 30 carries a projecting annular iiange 31, which extends around the part 17EL of the tube 17, and which is beveled on its outer surface 31St to form a tight frictional .engagement with the correspondingly in- -which is adaptedl to mesh with the bevel gear 37 mounted on the cam shaft 38. rll`his cam shaft is in turn journaled in bearings 39 carried by the side frame members 16h' -of the sub-frame 16. 'llhe means by `which the cam shaft is driven will be more fully described hereinafter. A

The rotatable tube 30, mounted on the tube 17, is adapted t0 enter and support the sausage casing 40, the unfilled' portion of which is folded or compressed on the tube, as

' shown at 41, so that a relatively large length of unfilled casing can be supported on the tube to be lled by the operation of the feeding mechanism. rlhe outer end of the tube 17 is enlarged, as shown at 17e, to fit closely the inner wall of the tube, so that the meat passing outwardly through said tube into the casing cannot enter the space between this tube and the tube 30, .while at the same time the friction between the tubes 17 and 30 is reduced to a minimum, 'since they are not connected,lexcept at their ends.

'llo` preventl the casing from slipping on v the tube 30 when the same is rotated, atube 42 is detachably mounted on the part 308L of said' tube by means of tongue and groove connections 43, which permit the tube 42 to lbe moved endwise with respect to the tube 30; 'but the tube 42 is normally retained against such endwise movement by means of springs 44 having inwardly turned projecting ends 44a adapted to engage an annular groove 45 formed on the outer surface of the sleeve 42.' Springs 46are secured to the tube 42, and carry at their ends contact plates 47, ,which may be formed of rubber, or the like, and which are adapted to engage the casin and hold he same in contact with the en portion ofthe tube 30.. These contact plates Asthe are formed on-the guideway 48 the pass therefrom on to a chute 49,

carrie by the Supplementary frame 15,

through which they pass to a .suitable collecting vessel. The ideway is provided with a pluralitilof longitudinally .extending grooves 48, w 'ch prevent rotation 'of the sausage links 50 thereon. The link 50 next adjacent the last link filled by the feeding device is held downwardly on the guideway p eration has previously o erated in a manner/ hereinafter to be descri ed, the casing will be illed until a constric'ted portion of the casingA 52, between successive links, arrives vat a point beneath the platevl', lwhen a spring-actuated controllin or measuring finger 53 moves upwardly t ough a slot 54 in the 'deway and 'enga es the depression 52. Tilsl movement of t e 'finger serves, through suitable mechanism to arrest the operation of the' feeding mechanism, so that the length of the casin filled during each operation of the fe ing means 1s de termined by the position of thev linger 53 with respect to the end of the nozzle `17.

The measuring finger 53 carries a roller 53'? to coact with the filled sausage casing,

and the s em of this finger is slidably moun'ted in a part 55 of the subframe-56,.which is adjustably mounted on the frame 15.4 The lower end of the finger 53.carries a pivot pin 57 mounted in anA elongated slot 58 formed in the end -of a. lever 59, which is fulcrumed at an intermediate point on an arm 60 carrled by the sun-frame.56. The

` other endof thislever is connected to 'a coiled spring 61 which has its other end attached to the sub-frame, so that the spring tends normally to move the roller 53a into engagement with the sausage casing. *An actuating pin 62 is pivotall connected at 63 to the lever 59 between t e arm 60 and the spring 61, this pin being slidably mounted in an arm 64 carried by the subframeI 56. The lower end of the pin .yen-

able .contact 67, which, whenthe spring is moved downwardly, is adapted to engage the' contact plate 68, ,mounted on and insulated from the arm 69 of the sub-frame. It will be apparent that when the fngerl is moved upwardly into the space formed by Ythe 'constricted part f52 of the sausage Y casin the actuating pin 62 moves downward y, 'causingthecontact 67 .to engagethe contact-plate 68, so that an electrical con- .38. the gear 37 and pinion 36, thus actuating the nection is thus established between the conductors 70 and 71.l The conductor 70 is connected to one line of the supply main 72 leading from a suitable source of electrical ener and the other conductor 71 is connecte to one terminal of a solenoid 73 mounted -on the table 15. The other terminal of this solenoid is connected through a conductor 74, to the other line of2 the supply main 72. When the circuit is estabished through the solenoid the magnetic forceexerted thereby on the magnetic core 75 thereof causes the latter. to move to the right, viewed in Fig. 1, so that the extension 75a thereof slides in its bearing 76 .and im arts a correspondiny movement to the bloc 77 iixed thereon. l his block carries a. pin 78, which engages a slot' in the lower arm 80 of an actuating lever 80 loosely mounted on the driving shaft 81, which is j ournaled in suitable bearin s 82 carried b the frame members 16", he shaft 8,1 is riven from a suitable source of power .throu h a pulley 483 fixed onthe projecting end t ereo and this shaft has fixed thereon a driving gear 85, arranged to mesh with scribed', the gear 86 is -moved into mesh with the pinion 88 ixed on the cam-shaft The camshaft is then actuated to drive gear 34 and pinion 33, so that the tube 30 is rotated fand rotation imparted to that portion o e the unfilled sausage casing next adjacent the part thereof which has just been lilled with meat.

Before this twirlin operation begins .the

by the operation of a cam 90, which Yis fixed on the shaft 38,v and which is provided at diametricall opposite points with depressions 91, eit er one of whichisadapted to receive the roller- 92 carried by the arm 93 of the feed control lever 93, during the period when the feeding mechanism is in operation. The roller 92 is normally maintained in contact with the periphery of the cam 90 by means of a coiled spring 94 connected to the lever 93 and to the sub-frame 16. The upper end' of this lever is provided with an elongated slot 95, adapted to engage a pin 96 mounted on the actuating arm 19 of the valve 18, by which `the flow of meat through the tube 17 is controlled. As soon as the operation of the shaft 38 begins the roller 92 is moved outwardly to c`act with the circular portion of the peripheoz of the cam 90, thus causingthe upper end` of the lever 93 to move tothe right, as viewed in Fi s. 1 `and 7, thereby' closing the valve 18 an shutting off the meat su ply. After the meat supply has been shut o the twirling arm 80b feeding mechanism will lhave been arrested ually diminishing cross section to the twisted part of the sausage and elongate this twisted part, so that a considerable part of the casing wouldbe wasted, especially if the casing vis not brought entirely to rest before `the twirling operation begins. To avoid this undesirable result, means is provided for delaying the commencement of the twirling operation for a certain period of time after the valve 18 is closed to discontinue the feeding ofthe meat. This interval of time permits the meat supply to be entirely closed, and permits the previously moving sausage casing to losevits momentum entirely before the twirling operation begins. The means for producing this desirable effect embodies the previously described bevel gear 37, which is formed `in two parts, 37 a and 37". These parts of the gear are provided with teeth 98, and thus form the complementary parts of a jaw clutch. The part 37B, which carries the gear proper, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 38, while the part 37 is slidably keyed thereon and is provided with a circular plate or Hange 99, the end face of which forms a cam having depres- -sions 100 at diametrically opposite points.

These depressions are located in the path of that portion of the gear which is adapted to coact with the adjustable pins 101 mounted on the part 16b of the sub-frame, and the cam is normally held in contact with these pins by means of a coil spring 102 which is mounted around the shaft 38 within the cylindrical chambers 103 formed in the parts 37a and 37b of the gear. When the cam 99 is moved, however, to a position where the pins 101 move out of the depressions 100 these pins impart a longitudinal movement to the part 37", and thus cause the teeth 98 on the two parts 37a and 32'b to of the clutch are moved into engagement with each other an interval of time will.'

` elapse during which the cam 90 operates to shut 0H the meat supply, and' during which the lled sausage casing hasan opportunity to lose its momentum.

Tn order to insure that the shaft 38 shall stop promptly ,when one ofthe notches 91' of thecam 90 is opposite the roller 92, car

ried by the lever 93, l have provided an additional controlling cam 105, which is keyed on the cam shaft 38 adjacent the gear This cam has two diametrically opposed notches 106, each notch having a sloping wall 106a at one end, and a shoulder 106b at the other end. These notches are adapted to be engaged successively by a pin 107 adjustably mounted in the arm 80c of the lever 80 previously described. This pin is ladapted to ride on the periphery of the cam 105 when the shaft 38 and gear 37 are rotating, thus preventing the idler 86 from passing out of mesh with the driving gear 88; but as soon as one ofthe notches 106 arrives opposite the end 107 the pin will be moved into engagement with the notch by the action of the coil spring 108, which is mounted von the extension 75a of the magnetic core 75, and retained thereon by the lock nuts 109.'

When the pin 107 arrives at a position opposite one of the notches 106 the adjacent radial shoulder 106b will insure an instantaneous entry of the pin into the notch, thereby stopping the rotation of the shaft A38, and if the notches 106 be located in such positions that one of them is engaged by the pin 107 'at the same time that ,oneI of the depressions 91 in the cam 90 is engaged by the roller 92,v it will be apparent that the` shaft 38 will be brought to rest when the valve 18 is open to permit the meat feeding means to operate.

The action of the coiled spring 108, mounted on `the extension 75a of the core of the solenoid, depends upon the electric circuit of the solenoid being open. Although the opening of the valve 18 by the cam 90 causes the meat to feed into the unfilled casing and advance the casing on the guideway 48, `thereby depressing the roller 53a and opening the circuit, it is desirable to provide means for positively opening the circuit during the twirling operation prior to the time when the meat-feeding means is started in its operation by the opening of the valve 18 and prior v to the time when one of 'the notches 106 passes beneath the pin 107,so that the spring 108 will then be free to act to move the gear 86 out of mesh with the gear 88 on the shaft 38. It will be apparent that the circuit may be opened at any time after the initial closing thereof, andthe cor` responding operation of the solenoid to mov the gear 861into mesh with the gear 88, an

after a sufficient movement of the cam 90 to cut olf the meat supply, because after this operation has taken place the pin 107, riding `on the periphery of the cam 105, prevents the disengagement of the gears 86 and 88 vuntil a complete twirling o eration has been performed. I have there ore provided means for ositively opening the circuit after the initial closing thereof and prior to the completion of the twirling operation. This means comprises a cam 110, fixed on the end of the shaft 38 adjacent the gear 88, this cam having diametrically opposed projections 1101. A lever 111, having a grooved v extremity 111a adapted to ride on the peserves normally to maintain the lever 111 in Contact with its cam. The rod 114 is provided with a plurality of holes 117, any one of which is adapted to be detachably engaged byl a pin 118, arranged to enter a slot 119 in the end of a bell crank lever 120. This lever is pivoted at 121 on the sub-frame 56, and the other arm thereof Ahas an upturned extremity 122 arranged beneath the end vof' the contactspring 65, previously described, so that when the rod 114 moves to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, the extremity 122 of the lever will press upwardly on the contact spring, thereby causing an upward movement of the actuating pin 62 and a corresponding downward movement of the 0pposite end ofthe lever 59, to which the roller 53a is connected. In this 'way the roller is moved out of the restricted part of the filled ,sausage casing, and the electric connection between the contacts 67 'and.68 is broken by the action of the spring 116 which tends normally to open the circuit. The lever 120 is rendered inoperative during the period which is necessary to permit the operation of the solenoid 73, cam 90, and clutch 37 L- '37", bythe cam 110 having the projections 110, one of which engages the lever 111 just prior to the arrival of the constricted portion of the casing above the roller 53a. The lever 111 continues to ride on one of the projections 110a until the shaft 138 has rotated to a suliicient degree toinsure the continuance of the wirling operation due to the action of the cam 105 even when the circuit finger 53 and roller 53 are carried, is mounted on an arm 125, which slidably engages a part 126 of the frame 15, and may be secured in any position longitudinally thereof bv means of a set screw 127, The adjustnient of this sub-frame will vary the position of the roller 53x1 with 'respect to the outlet 17, and thus vary the length of the sausage casing which must be filled before the circuit of the solenoid is closed to cause the operation of the shaft 38, and consequent cutting off of the meat supply and the beginning of the twirling operation. Thls adjustability of the sub-frame 56 necessitates a corresponding adjustability of the connection between the lever 120 and the rod 114, which is effected by means of the holes 117 and the pin 118, previously described. The frame member 126, which carries the sub- ;t'rame 56, is mounted to swing onthe frame 15 abou`t a vertical pivot 128, `so that the guideway 28 andthe link measuring mechanlsm may be moved out of alinementL with the nozzle 17 to permit ready withdrawal of the tubes 30 and 42 when it is desired to place a casing 41 on the tube 30. The swinging part 126 is held in normal position by a latch 129, which engages a notch 130 in the frame 15. It will be seen. that the rod 1 14 has a pivotal joint 131 which is normally adjacent the pivot 128.

In the operation of this machine the tube 42 is first removed from the tube 30 after disengaging the springs 44 from the annular groove 45, and va suitable length of unfilled` sausage casin 41 is placed on the tube 30, being doubler? the drawings so that a considerable length of'casing can be placed on the tube 30. This'. operation may be performed with the tube 30 in position on the nozzle 17 but the tube` may preferably be removed for this purpose by disengaging the friction clutch by which it is connected to the driving pinion 33 after swinging the guideway 28 and subframe 56 out ot the way. After the subthe casing has been filledl to such an' extent as to move the end of the casing out to the roller. The release of the roller will then close the circuit through the solenoid 73, causing the lever 80 to move the gear 86 into mesh with the gear 88, and thereby actuate the cam shaft 38. The initial 'operation of the cam shaft will rotate the cam 90, causing the lever 93 to actuate the `arm 19 and close the valve 18 to discontinue the flow of meat through the nozzle 17. When the shaft 38 begins to rotate the cam 99 will at 'first rotate therewith with the pins 101 engaging the depressions 100; but after the valve has been closed and the filled section of the sausage casing has entirely come to rest the projecting portions of the cam 99, between the depressions 100, will engage the pins 101, andV thereby cause the clutch member 37b to engage the part37 and establish a driving connection between the shaft 38 and the gear 37.- The gear 37 will then actuate the pinion 36, and drive passed outof mesh withthe gear 88.

. placed'on the tube, as previously described,

the pinion 33 on the tube 30 through the shaft 35' and gear 34. The twirling operation will then begin, and the section of unfilled casin on the tube 30 will be ,given a rotation re ative to the filled section of casing, and thus form a restricted portion between the unfilled casing and-the part filled, thereby formin a link. ln the meantime kthe cam 110-wi have actuated the rod 114C to open the circuit of the'solenoid 73, so that at the end of the twirling operation the roller 92 on the lever 93 will pass into one of the depressions 91 on the cam 90,thereby opening the valve -18 to permit a. further feeding of the meat into the casing, and at the same time the pin 107, which has previously been riding-upon the periphery of the cam 105, will pass into one of the notches 106 to cause av positive stopping of the rotation of the shaft 38. This action of the pin 107 is caused b the operation ofthe lever 80 under the i uence of the spring/ 108, and at the same time the gear 86 is of course Simultaneously with this operation the pins 101 will again engage the depressions 100 on the cam 99,'and thereby permit the spring 102 .to eHect a disengagement of the clutch members 37EL and 37b. The plunger 25 -in the cylinder 24 will then continue to force the meat into the sausage casing untilthe restricted portion formed in the preceding twirlin operation arrives at a position above t e roller 53g, whence the circuit of the solenoid 7 3 is-again closed andthe operation repeated. i

The relative positions of the cams on the shaft 38 may be seen-by lreference to ligs.v

l and 6, and particularly Fig. 8.' The roller 92 engages one of the ldepressions 90 at the same time thatv the pin 10"@7 engages one of the notches 10S-in the cam 105, and at this instant also the end 111 'of the lever 111k is just beginning to ride upon one of the projections 110a ofi the cam. 110, these projections being of sucient length to hold the lever 120 out of engagement with the contact spring during an interval of time adapted to permit the operation of the measuring finger 53, the consequentoperation of the solenoid 73,'and fthe following rotation of the shaft 38, which causes the roller 92 and the pin 107 to move out of notches 92 and 106, respectively.

When the sausage casing L.i1 on the tube 30 has all been filled, anew casing ma be and the' operation of the machine continued. lit will be apparent that all of the sausage links formed by the machine are of the same length, and'that the separation between adjacent links is formed by the twirling of an unfilled portion of the casing with respect to the part of the casing which has justbeen -casing by twistin Lacasse filled, so that there is always sucient slack in the casingto permit the twirling to take place without tearin the casing or otherwise injurin it, whi e at the same time the novel means erein provided forpermitting the casingto come to rest before the twirling operation begins prevents the waste ofthe relatively long sections thereof between a acent lin s.

Although I have shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various different forms without departing from thel spirit of this invention as defined inthe appended claims.

Whatl claim is:

. 1. in combination means for holding a casing, means for fillin the casing, and means actuated by the led `casing for intermittently arresting the operation of said filling means.

2. lin combination, means for holding a casing, means for lli'ng the casing, means controlled by the movement of the filled casing for arresting the operation of the filling means, and means for twirling the unfilled casing for varresting the Voperation of the filling means, and means actuated by said last-named vmeans for twirling-the unlled casing with respect to the last section filled.

fi. n combination, means for holding a casing, means for fillin the same with meat, means for intermittent y operating said fillin means whereby adjacent segments of said casing are filled in succession, and means for automatically controlling the length of each of said segments.

5. In combination, a tube on which the unfilled casin is adapted to be mounted,

ylillin means or filling said casing and forcing t e same of of said tube, and means for automatically arresting the operation of said filling means when a predetermined length of said casing has been lilled thereby.

6. In combination, atube, means for feeding meat through said tube, a lsecond tube rotatably mounted around said rst-men tioned tube and adapted to hold the unfilled casing, and means actuated by the filled casing for arresting the operation of said feeding means.

7. In combination, a tube, means for feeding meat throughl said tube, a second tube rotatably mounted around said first-men tioned tube and adapted to hold the unfilled casing, means actuated bythe filled casing for arresting the operation of said feeding means, and means operating thereafter for ico ics

rotating said second-named tube to twist the' unfilled casing with Vrespect to the, filled casing, `means actuated by the lled casing for arrestingthe operation of said feeding means,- means operating thereafter for ro.

tat-ing said second-named tube to` twist the unfilled casing with respect to the filled casing, and means for automatically delaying the operation of said last-named means until said first-named means has been arrested and said filled casing has come to rest.

9. In combination, a tube, means forl feed ing meat through said tube, a second tube rotatably mounted around said first-mentioned tube and adapted to hold the unfilled casing, means actuated by the filled casing for arresting the operation of said feeding means, `means operating thereafter for rotating said second-named tube to twist the unfilled casing with respect t0 the filled casing, and means for insuring the stopping of said twisting means before said eeiing means continues its operation.

10. In combination, a tube throuh which meat is adapted to be fed, la secon tube rotatably mounted around said first-mentioned tube` said second-named tube being adapted,

to hold the unfilled sausage casing, means for alternately feeding meat through said first-mentioned tube and rotating said second-mentioned tube, and automatic means for controlling the succession of said operations to produce sausage links of equal lengths.

11. In combination, a tube through which meat is adapted to be fed, a second tube rotatably mounted around said first-named tube and adapted to .hold the unfilled sa'u" sage casing, means for intermittently feeding meat through said first-named tube to fill successive segments of said casing of substantially equal length, and means acting in alternation with said last-named means for intermittently rotating said second-named tube through predetermined constant arcs.

12. In combination, a tube through which meat is adapted to be fed, a second tube rotatably `mounted around said first-named tube and adapted to hold the unfilled sausage casing, means for intermittently feeding meat through said first-named tube to fill successive segments of said casing of substantiallyA equal length, means acting in alternation with said last-named means for intermittently rotating said second-named tube through predetermined constant arcs,

and means for insuring the complete stopping' Aof said feeding means before said rotating means begins to operate and for insuring the stop ing of said rotating means before.

said fee ing means-begins its next succeeding operation.

13. In combination, means for holding an unfilled sausage casing, feeding means acting lconstantly under pressure for filling sald casing, means for rotating the unfilled casing with respect lto the filled part thereof to form a constricted portion between adjacent links, and means actuated by coaction .with said constricted portion for discontinuing the'oneration of said filling means when a predetermined segment of casing has been filled. i

14. In combination, means for holdilng -an unfilled sausage casing, feeding means acting constantly under preure for filling said casing, means for yrotatin the unfilled casing with respect to the lfille part thereof to form a constricted portion between adjacent links, a movable member adapted normally to enter a constricted partof said cas- 1n migned Position, and electrically operated means actuated by said movable member when the latter enga es said constricted por'- tion for automatically controlling the `operation of said filling means to effect the filling of successive segments of casing of subcasing to form a constricted portion at the v end of eachlink formed, a movable member adapted to be actuated by engagement with a constricted part of said casing, means acting normally to maintain said movable member out of engagement with said casing, means to render said last named means inoperative at the time when a constricted part of said casing reaches a positionover said movable member, and means actuated by the engagement of said movable member with a constricted portion ,of saidv casing for arresting the operation of said feeding means.

17. In combination, means for hoIding an unfilled sausage casing, feeding means for filling said casing, means for rotating the unfilled casing with respect to the filled part thereof to form a constricted portion vbewhenthe latter arrives at a predeterthe operation of said movable v member orarresting the operation of said tween adjacent links, a movable member adapted to enter a cnstricted,part` of said casin when the latter arrives at a predetermine position, electricallyoperated means actuated by` the engagement of said movable member with said constricted part for. ar

the unfilled casing withrespect to the lled part thereof to form a constricted portion at the end of each segment filled, cam actuated means controlled bythe operation of said feeding means for arresting the operation of the latter when a predetermined length of casing has been filled, cam controlled means for actuating said rotated means thereafter, and cam controlled means for -delaying the operation of said last named means for a predetermined period after said first mentioned cam actuated means has begun to operate.

19. In combination, means for holding an .unfilled sausage casing, feeding means for filling said casing, means for rotating the unfilled casing with respect to the lled part thereof to form a constricted portion at the end of each segment filled, cam actuated means controlled by the operation of said feeding means for arresting the operation of the latter when a predetermined length of casing has been filled, cam controlled means for actuating said rotating means thereaf-v ter', cam controlled means for delayin the operation of said last named means ora predetermined period after `said first mentioned ca-m actuated means has begun to operate, and other caml controlled means for insuringthe instantaneous-stopping of said rotating means after a predetermined operation of the latter.

20. In combination, means for holding an unfilled sausage casing, feeding means for filling said casing, means for rotating the unfilled casing with respect to the lled part thereof to form a constricted portion at the end of each segment filled, a continuousl operating driving shaft, a controlling sha t adapted to `be operated thereby, means actuated upon movement of said controlling shaft for arresting the operation of said feeding means, means actuated by coaction with a constricted part of said casing for forming a driving connection between said shafts and thereby arresting the operation of said feeding means, and other means actuated by said controlling shaft for operating menaces said rotating-. means when saidl feeding means is idle.

21. fn combination, means for holding an unfilledsausage casing, feeding means for iilling'said casing, means for rotating the unfilled casing with respectl to the filled part thereof to form a constricted portion at the eend of each segment filled, a continuously operating driving shaft, a controlling shaft adapted to be operated thereby, means actuated upon movement of said controlling shaft for arresting the operation of said feeding means, means actuated by coaction with a constricted part of said casing for, forming a driving connection between said shafts and thereby arresting the operation of said feedin means, means adapted to be actuated bysald controlling shaft for operating said rotating means, and means actuated after a predetermined movement of said controlling shaft for effecting the operation of said last-named means.

22. in combination, means for holding an unlled sausage casing, feeding means for filling said casing-means lfor rotating the unfilled casing with respect to the filled part thereof to form a constricted portionV at the end of each segment filled, a continuously operating driving shaft, a controlling shaft v adapted to be yoperated thereby, means actuated upon movement of said controllingy shaft for arresting the operation of said feeding' means, means actuated by coaction with a constricted part of said casing for forming a driving connection between said shafts and thereby arresting the operation -of said feeding means, means adapted to be actuated by said controlling shaft for operating said rotating means, and means actuated after a predetermined movement of said controlling shaft for effecting the operation iur of said last named means,.all of said means operated by said controlling shaft being arranged to edect the alternate operation of said feeding means and said rotating meansin a. continuous cycle.

2 3. lin combination, means for filling a casing, and means for intermittently arresting the operation of said lling means at yarresting the operation of said filling means.

lll 0 26., lin combination, means for holding and filling a casing, m'eans for intermittently arresting the operation of said filling means, means for twirling the unfilled casmg with respect to the last segment of casing filled, and means for delayin the operation of said twirling means unt said filling means has been arrested and said filled casing has come to rest.

27. In combination, a tube, means for feeding meat through said tube, means for holding a casing to receive meat from said tube, and means independent of said tube for twirling the unfilled casing with respect to thefilled casing.

28. The combination in a machine of the class described, of a tube adapted to engage and hold an unfilled casing, means for feeding meat though the interior of said tube into saidcasing, and means mounted outwardly of said tube for controlling the movement of said casing from said tube.

29. In combination, a tube, means for feeding meat through said tube, a second tube Within which said first-named tube is mounted, said second-named tube being adapted to enter and hold an unfilled sausage casing, and means for rotatin said second-named tube with respect to sai firstnamed tube.

30. In combination, means for holding a casing, means for feeding meat into said casing, means for arresting the operation of said feeding means, means for twirling said casing when the operation of Said feeding means is arrested, and means comprising a member adapted to engage the depressions between adjacent links for controlling the operation of said arresting means.

31. In combination, means for holding a casing, means for feeding meat into said casing, means for arresting the operation of said feed-ing means, means for twirling said casing when the operation of said feeding means is arrested, means comprising a member adapted to engage the depressions between adjacent links for controlling the operation of said arresting means, and means for moving saidmember out of operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

LOUIS REISFELD. 

